Early Elizabethan anthems were modelled on the Latin antiphon or motet, but they cautiously followed the queen's injunction by being largely syllabic, with a minimum of counterpoint.

He was looking inwards, which meant he didn't need to write 4O-voice motets, or antiphons which last 20 minutes.

The newer work was commissioned for a concert of music derived from a Gregorian antiphon imploring the Lord for peace now, not later, ‘because there is no one else who will fight for us, if not You, our God.’